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Offices of Medical Student Education

Orthopaedics

Department Website

med.unc.edu/ortho

Important Contacts

Andrew Chen
Chair of Medical Student Affairs, Assistant Professor
andrew_chen@med.unc.edu

Robert Esther
Residency Program Director, Associate Professor
bob_esther@med.unc.edu

Lisa K. Cannada MD, FAAOS, FAOA, FACS
Orthopaedic Trauma Surgeon
Department of Orthopaedics, Adjunct Professor
UNC Charlotte Director of Faculty Integration
Novant Health Orthopaedic Fracture Clinic
cannada_lisa@gmail.com

Advisory College Videos

Application Phase Career Day Career Opportunity Services Session

FAQs/Course Recommendations/Additional Info

All go through our residency education specialist, Chanelle Arsenault, chanelle_arsenault@med.unc.edu, and then we set-up a meeting with the 2 career advisors.
Mostly Surgery, SICU

Recommended Courses:

AI/Acting Internship
2 AIs at least, one at UNC

CC/Critical Care
Critical care, gen surgery (trauma)

ACS/Advanced Clinical Selective
SICU

Electives
MSK radiology, SICU, rheumatology

No
Yes, in Orthopaedics.
Yes, so we can write a letter from the PD/chair.
During 3rd year, beginning of 4th year, and before September ERAS deadline.
>3-4 letters.  One from Ortho PD. 2 more ortho and maybe 1 really good one outside ortho.
As June-July before ERAS application.
You can talk to residents, use US News, use Doximity, and ask faculty
Yes, can include in ERAS application, or contact program coordinator after application is sent in to let them know.
Get them in ASAP.
You can write a really sincere letter to the program director or have a faculty member at UNC reach out to someone they know that is there.
You can try but don’t get your hopes up (see answer above).
It doesn’t hurt, but it also doesn’t help.  It is up to you.  It may help if sincere, specific, and not generic.
Yes, a specific, sincere letter.  Also, see if a faculty member with connections can reach out for you.
Depends on what they say, you are NOT supposed to interact with them after the interview and they should not be reaching out to you.
  • USMLE Step 2 Score: 257 or higher (average score in 2024 for those that matched)
  • Research experience with abstracts, presentations, and publications (20)
  • AOA
  • Home AI and 2-3 away rotations with honors
  • At least 3 LOR from orthopaedic surgeon